Tamper-evident indicator wraps

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods include tamper-evident indicators applied to a band comprising a strap that forms a closed loop. Tamper-evident sections of the indicators provide increased security against accidental and intentional removal of the indicators. Indicators are provided with adhesives and bare areas devoid of adhesive allowing easy and secure application of indicators to bands while they are being worn and with greater ease. Indicators can be further provided with liners protecting the adhesives allowing the indicators to be easily applied by gloved hands, reducing contamination risks. Contamination and wear risks can be further reduced by supplying indicators with antimicrobial surfaces and overprint varnishing.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 62/859,480 entitled “Tamper-Evident Indicator Wraps”filed on Jun. 10, 2019, the entire contents of which are incorporatedherein by reference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This disclosure relates to attaching visible indicators to bands suchas, for example, wristbands that can be attached to objects or wornaround limbs of people or animals.

BACKGROUND

Wrist and ankle bands are commonly worn by people or animals foridentification and other purposes. One common application of such bandsis as patient identification bands worn by patients in hospital andother medical settings. In such settings, patient identification bandsare frequently augmented with indicators to alert medical personnel topatient conditions such as medication allergies, bleeding disorders,fall risks, and so forth.

Conventional approaches to augmenting bands such as those worn aspatient identification bands include using supplemental bands fastenedaround a patient's wrist or ankle. These supplemental bands are used asindicators that may be labeled or colored to identify the indicationthey are meant to communicate. Other conventional approaches includeattaching indicator stickers to an identification band or attachingspecialized indicator devices (such as plastic indicators which snapclosed or snap onto raised nubs using friction fittings) to anidentification band.

SUMMARY

Conventional approaches such as those described above havedisadvantages, particularly in the medical field. The use of one or moresupplemental indicator bands in addition to an identification band canbe uncomfortable for patients and may result in the patientintentionally or unintentionally removing an important indicator whoseremoval cannot be readily detected. Moreover, conventional stickers andsupplementary bands may also fall off due to repeated rubbing against orsnagging on other objects and require replacement. Furthermore, stickersmay be difficult to apply be medical personnel wearing surgical gloves.In addition, the adhesive backings of stickers may accidentally contactthe patient's skin or hair on the skin, causing discomfort andincreasing the likelihood that the sticker will separate from theidentification band.

Provided herein is a novel structure for supplemental identification onbands that addresses many of aforementioned issues and provides animproved mode of attachment.

According to one aspect, an assembly is provided having a band includinga strap that forms a closed loop and a set of one or more flexibletamper-evident indicators. The indicators are formed from respectivelengths of flexible indicator material. Each indicator has first andsecond ends and is adhesively fastened by adhesives disposed at thesefirst and second ends to the band at a respective location on the strap.The respective location on the strap has a width smaller than each ofthe respective lengths of flexible indicator material.

In some forms, the adhesives may be disposed on an underside of eachindicator and each indicator may be configured such that a partial topsurface of that indicator overlays an outwardly-facing surface of thestrap at the first and second ends of that indicator. The partial topsurface may bear an indicium (such as text or images, for example, andmay be associated with the condition of the wearer so as to indicate,for example, a fall risk, an allergy, and so on). The outwardly-facingsurface of the strap and the partial top surface of each indicator mayface away from a center of the closed loop. Put differently, the endsmay be adhesively secured to the band on an outer surface of the band sothe terminal ends are visible when the band is worn.

In some forms, the set of one or more flexible tamper-evident indicatorsmay include a first and second indicator. The first indicator may have afirst color and bear a first indicium on its partial top surface whilethe second indicator may have a second color and bear a second indiciumon its partial top surface.

In some forms, the indicators and the adhesives may be jointlyconfigured and dimensioned such that removal of any indicator causes atleast a portion of the partial top surface of that indicator having acolor of that indicator to remain adhered to the outward-facing surfaceof the band. In order to effectuate this, a tamper-evident section ofeach indicator having the partial top surface of that indicator may bepatterned and jointly configured with the adhesives such that a firstadhesion strength between a first portion of the tamper-evident sectionand a second portion of the tamper-evident section is weaker than asecond adhesion strength between the tamper-evident section and theoutward-facing surface of the band. Put differently, upon attemptedremoval of the indicator(s), a residual visual portion may be left onthe band that inhibits simple removal of an indicator without damagingthe indicator and/or the band to which the indicator had been applied.

In some forms, each length of flexible indicator material may include anantimicrobial surface.

In some forms, the partial top surface of each indicator (or a greaterportion of the indicator) may be supplied with an overprint varnishdisposed above the indicium in which the overprint varnish protects theindicium against liquid exposure.

In some forms, the entire top surface of each indicator may be suppliedwith the overprint varnish.

In some forms, the underside of each indicator may include a bare areadevoid of adhesive disposed between the first and second ends of thatindicator. The bare area may have a length greater than the width of thestrap at each respective location. The bare area of each indicator mayinclude at least a first pair of alignment marks dimensioned tocorrespond to a width of the strap at a first respective location. Thebare area of each indicator may also include at least a second pair ofalignment marks dimensioned to correspond to a width of the strap at asecond respective location and the width of the strap at the firstrespective location may be greater than the width of the strap at thesecond respective location. These marks can help to center the indicatoron the band—even if the band has more than one width—and the lack ofadhesive on the underside may help the individual applying the indicatorto position the indicator relative to the band before adhesivelysecuring it on the outwardly-facing side of the band.

In some forms, the strap may be formed from a first length of flexiblestrap material having a first end and a second end and may furtherinclude a closure mechanism that includes at least respective portionsof the first and second ends of the strap. The closure mechanism may beconfigured to fasten the first and second ends of the strap togetherthereby forming the band into a closed loop dimensioned to encircle alimb of a patient.

According to another aspect, an indicator system is provided thatincludes a set of one or more flexible tamper-evident indicators foradhering to a band having a strap that forms a closed loop. Each of theset of one or more flexible tamper-evident indicators includes arespective length of flexible indicator material providing a top surfacebearing an indicium on at least one of first and second ends of theindicator and further providing an underside. On the underside,adhesives are disposed at the first and second ends of the indicator anda bare area devoid of adhesive is disposed between the adhesives of thefirst and second ends of that indicator. The bare area has a length atleast equal to a strap width of a selected band design.

In some forms, each indicator may be supplied with one or more removableliner films adhering to (or covering) the adhesives. The liner films maybe configured to detach from the adhesives when the liner films areremoved from the indicator. The indicators may be configured such thatthe liner films extend beyond one or more edges of each respectivelength of flexible indicator material. The liner films may be furtherconfigured to detach from the adhesives when pulled in a directionsubstantially parallel to the respective lengths of flexible indicatormaterial. Among other things, this can accommodate easy attachment ofthe indicators, even if the individual attaching the indicators iswearing gloves or has limited use of both hands at the time ofapplication.

In some forms, the bare area of each indicator may include at least afirst pair of alignment marks dimensioned to correspond to the strapwidth of the selected band design and each indicator may be configuredsuch that, when an indicator axis intersecting the first and second endsof the indicator is oriented perpendicularly to a strap of a band havingthe selected band design and the strap of that band is positioned tocontact the bare area of the indicator between the first pair ofalignment marks, the strap of that band contacts only the bare area ofthe indicator.

In some forms, the indicium of each indicator may be included in (oroverlay) a tamper-evident section of the top surface of each indicator.The tamper-evident section of each top surface may be patterned andjointly configured with the adhesives such that a first adhesionstrength between a first portion of the tamper-evident section and asecond portion of the tamper-evident section is weaker than a secondadhesion strength between the tamper-evident section and theoutward-facing surface of the band. In such arrangement, when anyindicator has been adhered to a band, subsequent removal of thatindicator may cause at least a portion of the indicium of that indicatorto remain adhered to the band.

In some forms, the adhesives may be jointly configured and dimensionedsuch that removal of any indicator causes at least a portion of thepartial top surface of that indicator having a color of that indicatorto remain adhered to the outward-facing surface of the band.

According to still yet another aspect, a method of adhering atamper-evident indicator to a band having a strap that forms a closedloop is provided in which the tamper-evident indicator has a structureof a kind discussed above and elsewhere herein. The method includespositioning the indicator such that an indicator axis intersecting thefirst and second ends of the indicator is oriented perpendicularly tothe strap and the bare area faces toward an inward-facing surface of thestrap (which inward-facing surface faces toward a center of the closedloop, when formed). Then, the indicator is folded such that theadhesives adhere the first and second ends of the indicator to anoutward-facing surface of the strap and such that the indicium facesoutward from the center of the loop.

In some forms, the method may further include the steps of assemblingthe band to form the closed loop encircling a limb of a patient,inserting the indicator between the strap and the limb of the patient(such that the top surface of the indicator faces the limb and theunderside of the indicator faces the strap), and exposing the adhesivesby detaching liner materials adhered to the indicator by the adhesives.

These and still other advantages of the invention will be apparent fromthe detailed description and drawings. What follows is merely adescription of some preferred embodiments of the present invention. Toassess the full scope of the invention the claims should be looked to asthese preferred embodiments are not intended to be the only embodimentswithin the scope of the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Advantages of embodiments of the present invention will be apparent fromthe following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments thereof,which description should be considered in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1A schematically depicts an example embodiment including a straphaving tamper-evident indicators in which the strap surrounds a wrist orankle in closed loop form.

FIGS. 1B and 1C respectively depict top and bottom views of the exampleembodiment of FIG. 1A in which the band is in a non-looped or aflattened form.

FIGS. 2 and 3 respectively depict top and bottom surfaces of an exampletamper-evident indicator corresponding to the indicators depicted inFIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C and showing further structural details of theindicator.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Aspects of the invention are disclosed in the following description andrelated drawings directed to specific embodiments of the invention.Alternate embodiments may be devised without departing from the spiritor the scope of the invention. Additionally, well-known elements ofexemplary embodiments of the invention will not be described in detailor will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of theinvention. Further, to facilitate an understanding of the description,discussion of several terms used herein follows.

The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example,instance, or illustration.” Any embodiment described herein as“exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred oradvantageous over other embodiments. Likewise, the terms “embodiments ofthe invention,” “embodiments,” or “invention” do not require that allembodiments of the method, system or apparatus include the discussedfeature, advantage or mode of operation.

Terms indicating relative position such as “above,” “below,” “upper,”“lower,” “rear,” “front,” and so forth are used for purposes ofillustration only, unless otherwise noted and are made with reference tothe orientation of the drawings. It should be understood that theseterms are not generally meant to indicate a preferred orientation whensuch an orientation is not inherently or explicitly required.

Reference will be made throughout to applications of embodimentsdisclosed herein to medical settings, including identification bandsworn by patients and indicators adhered to such bands. Such referencesare for purposes of illustration and are not intended to limit theclaimed invention to such applications.

Looking first at FIG. 1A, an example embodiment comprising a band 100 isshown schematically surrounding a wrist-like or ankle-like structure(hereinafter referred to as wrist 10). The band 100 comprises a strap110. The strap 110 has an outward-facing surface 114 and inward-facingsurface 116 (not visible in FIG. 1A and indicated by a dashed arrow, butbetter seen in FIG. 1C) opposite the outward-facing surface 114. Alsoshown for illustration in FIG. 1B, in which the band 100 is shown in anun-looped or flat form, is a strap axis 140 indicated by a dashed arrow.References made to length(s) of the strap 110 refer to directionsparallel to the strap axis 140, while references made to width(s) of thestrap 110 refer to a direction perpendicular to the strap axis 140 andin the plane of the strap 110 when the strap 110 lies flat as shown inFIGS. 1B and 1C.

A set of indicators 150, which are tamper-evident, is represented by twoindicators 150A and 150B shown affixed to the strap 110 at two differentlocations in which each of the two locations on the strap 110 have adifferent width. Although not necessarily shown to scale, the indicators150A and 150B are each formed from a single respective length offlexible material. Indicators 150A and 150B are affixed by their ends tothe outward-facing surface 114 of the strap 110 and wrap around theinward-facing surface 116 of the strap 110, as further described belowin connection to FIGS. 1B and 1C.

FIGS. 1B and 1C illustrate elements of the indicators 150A and 150B andtheir relation to elements of the strap 110 in greater detail. FIG. 1Bshows a view of the outward-facing surface 114 of the strap 110 withindicators 150 affixed. In some embodiments, such as the band 100, thestrap 110 has areas with different widths. Indicator 150A is shownaffixed to the strap 110 at a first location having a width 112A, whileindicator 150B shown affixed to the strap 110 in a second locationhaving a narrower width 112B. It will be appreciated that while the bandillustrated has a “flag” section that is wider than the remainder of thestrap, that other bands could have a wider section intermediate to twostrap sections of reduced width.

Each indicator 150, as disclosed herein, has a top surface 154,represented sections in FIGS. 1B and 1C by the top surface 154A ofindicator 150A and the top surface 154B of indicator 150B (see also FIG.2). Each indicator 150 also has an underside 156 shown and describedbelow in connection to FIG. 3).

As noted above, each indicator 150 is affixed to the outward-facingsurface 114 of the strap. Each indicator 150 is affixed using adhesivesbeneath the top surface 154 of that indicator 150, as indicated by thedashed regions shown with the top surface 154A in FIG. 1B.

FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 respectively show the top surface 154 and underside156 of an example indicator 150 without the indicator 150 being wrappedaround a band to better show its unattached structure.

As shown in FIG. 2, each indicator 150 has tamper-evident sections (“TEsections 210”) belonging to the top surface 154, preferably one at eachend of the indicator 150. In some embodiments, each TE section 210 formsor otherwise includes an indicium. As shown in FIG. 2, such an indiciummay include text such as the text “ALLERGY”, shown as a non-limitingexample. Such an indicium or similar indicia may be useful in medicalapplications where it is important to identify patients with medicationallergies, or other conditions. In such applications, the indicator 150is adhered to the band 100 (which may be a medical identification band)as shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C and the indicium can be visible, evenwhen the band 100 is formed into a loop. In some embodiments, theindicator 150 includes a particular color forming part of the indiciumor as an additional indicium, as indicated by hatching in the area 220of FIG. 2 (note the TE sections 210 are shown without hatching so the TEsections 210 and their indicia may be seen clearly, but any colorationcould also be found in the TE sections 210 as well). In the case of apre-defined set of indictors, different colors can be associated withdifferent conditions (e.g., red as allergy, yellow as fall risk, purpleas do not resuscitate, pink as limb alert, and green as no latex, forexample). In this way, an observer familiar with the indicator set maybe able to determine quickly the condition flagged by the indicator fromafar, even if the indicium is not readable at the distance.

In some embodiments, the indicator 150 (or appropriate parts thereofsuch as areas with text) is provided with an overprint varnish (OPV) toprotect indicia and/or other parts from liquid exposure. In someembodiments, no part of the indicator 150 is supplied with such an OPV.In addition, the indicator 150 may include one or more antimicrobialsurfaces for use in medical and other settings to reduce the spread ofinfectious diseases and organisms.

Below, tamper-evident features of the TE sections 210 and other featuresof the indicator 150 are described in connection with FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 shows the underside 156 of the indicator 150. The undersides 310of the TE sections 210 are areas supplied with the adhesives (indicatedby light hatching). Also visible are example tamper-evident features. Asshown, the TE sections 210 (as visible in FIG. 2 and in FIG. 3 at theundersides 310) are patterned with various features. Thesepatterns—which may be, for example, scored or die cut—define regionsdesigned to tear away from the rest of the TE section 210 if theindicator 150 is removed from a surface after it has been adhered tothat surface. In practice this may be accomplished by making theadhesion force between the patterned areas and the rest of the TEsections 210 weaker than the adhesion between the rest of the TEsections 210 and the surface (such as the outward-facing surface 114 ofthe strap 110). In this example, portions of the text will remain on thesurface if the indicator 150 is removed, allowing remnants of the TEsection 210 which remain adhered to the surface continue to function asthe indicia, or at the very least to signal that one or more indiciawere formerly present. It should be understood that the foregoingdescription of the TE sections 210 is intended as non-limiting exampleand that any tamper-evident design enabling the functionalitiesdescribed herein is suitable.

Also visible on the underside 156 in FIG. 3 is a bare area 320 devoid ofadhesive. In certain embodiments, the bare area 320 includes pairs ofalignment marks 322, represented in FIG. 3 by the three pairs ofalignment marks 322 a, 322 b, and 322 c.

In certain embodiments, the indicator 150 is also supplied withremovable liner materials 324 which protect the adhesives on theundersides 310 of the TE sections 210. The liner materials 324 may bethin strips of plastic or other material that are configured to readilyseparate from the indicator 150 when pulled.

Now that structural features of the band 100 and indictors 150 have beendescribed, methods of using the band 100 with indicators 150 will bedescribed with reference to these figures. For purposes of illustrationand discussion, it is here noted that FIG. 3 shows a dashed arrowrepresenting an indicator axis 340. References to length(s) of theindicator 150 refer to directions parallel to the indicator axis 340 andreferences to width(s) of the indicator 150 refer to directionsperpendicular to the indicator axis 340 in the plane of the indicator150 when the indicator 150 lies flat as shown in FIG. 3.

In an example method of applying an indicator 150 to a band such as theband 100, a user positions the indicator 150 within the closed loopformed by band 100 such that the underside 156 of the indicator 150faces the inward-facing surface 116 (which is opposite theoutward-facing surface 114) of the strap 110. The user optionally alignsthe strap 110 such that it is centered within an appropriate pair ofalignment marks 322 on the bare area 320 on the underside 156 of theindicator 150. With the indicator 150 so positioned, the user removesthe liner materials 324 and folds the indicator 150 around the strap 110such that the undersides 310 of the TE sections 210 (and the adhesivesdisposed thereon) contact the outward-facing surface 114 of the strap110, thereby adhering the indicator 150 to the strap 110. It iscontemplated this could be done in a stepwise fashion, with one of theliners 324 being removed and the corresponding underside 310 folded overbefore the other liner 324 and underside 310 are handled, or both liners324 could be removed before attachment of either of the undersides 310.

When embodiments disclosed herein are used as described, variousfeatures of said embodiments may provide particular advantages. For one,the TE sections 210 of the indicators 150 can address commonshortcomings of conventional approaches such as the tendency forindicators to fall off or be removed in such a way that detachment ofthe indicator cannot be easily detected. When an indicator 150 employsTE sections 210 detachment of the indicator 150 from the band 100, theindicating objective of the indicator 150 is thus still accomplished bythe remnant(s) of the indicator. Alternatively, even if remnant(s) ofthe indicator no longer function for that purpose, the remnant(s) stillserve as an indication that an indicator 150 was previously present andthat the band 100 (and/or a wearer of the band 100, such as a patient)should receive appropriate attention (for example, a doctor or nurse mayrealize that it is necessary to check the patient's records and applyreplacement indicators 150 as needed).

The placement of the adhesives on the undersides 310 of the TE sections210, together with the liner materials 324, can also address additionalshortcomings of conventional indicators. For example, conventionalstickers (with adhesive covering an entire side of the sticker) wrappedaround a patient identification band will tend to adhere to a patient'sskin or body hair, making application of the sticker difficult for theuser and uncomfortable for the patient. In addition, once a sticker'sadhesive is exposed in preparation for use, parts of the sticker's maystick to the user's finger or parts of the sticker may stick tothemselves. These issues may be exacerbated in settings where thestickers are applied by users who must wear gloves to avoidcontamination and infection. Indicators 150 disclosed herein addressthese issues by providing the bare area 320 that is devoid of adhesiveand the liner materials 324 which covers the adhesives prior to use.

When the liner materials 324 are provided as shown in FIG. 3, they allowa user to position the indicator 150 with no risk of accidental adhesionof the indicator 150 to surfaces other than the desired surface of theband 100. The liner materials 324 may dimensioned in the oversizedfashion shown in FIG. 3 to allow easy removal of the liner materials 324by users with reduced dexterity (such as nurses and doctors wearinggloves).

In an example application procedure, a user positions the indicator 150beneath the band 100 as previously described above. The user can holdsthe indicator 150 in place by pinching the indicator 150 and the strap110 together between the user's thumb and forefinger with the user'sforefinger (for example) resting on the inward-facing surface 116 of thestrap 110. The user then removes the liner materials 324 with the otherhand. The user may now user flip one of the TE sections 210 upward androll it over onto the outward-facing surface 114 of the strap 110,pressing until it adheres to the strap 110. This maneuver may then berepeated with the other TE section 210. It will be appreciated thatwhile there is a small gap between the ends in the illustrated figureson the outward facing surface 114, that in some forms, the ends of theadhered sections could meet or at least in part overlap each other;however, even in such overlapping form, one of the ends will adhesivelyattach to the underlying band.

It will be observed from this description of application that suchindicators should have a length in excess of the width of the band towhich the indicator is to be applied so that the partial top surfaces ofthe indicator on the outside of the band are visible after application.However, in a general sense, the overall length of the indicator willnot likely be more than three times the width of the band to which theindicator is to be applied as that would leave excess material, even ifthe two ends are fold completely onto one another on the outwardlyfacing surface. Even so, this leaves a significant amount of possiblelength variance that is acceptable and a single length of indicatorcould be used on range of various width bands.

Thus, systems and methods including tamper-evident indicators applied toa band comprising a strap and forming a closed loop have been disclosed.Tamper-evident sections of the indicators provide increased securityagainst accidental and intentional removal of the indicators. Indicatorsare provided with adhesives and bare areas devoid of adhesive allowingeasy and secure application of indicators to bands worn by humans andanimals with greater ease. Indicators are further provided with linersprotecting the adhesives allowed indicators to be easily applied bygloved hands, reducing contamination risks. Contamination and wear risksare further reduced by supplying indicators with antimicrobial surfacesand overprint varnishing.

It will further be appreciated that such indicators may be provided inmany forms. For example, the indicators may be provided on rollscontaining a length from which an individual indicator is separable byvirtue of scoring, perforations or so forth or which may be die cut on acontinuous supportive release liner such that individual indicators maybe removed. Still further the roll might be received on a dispenser thatis able to hold one or more rolls, with each of the rolls having aunique type of indicator contained thereon (i.e., one roll for “fallrisk” indicators, one roll for “allergy” indicators, one roll for “nolatex” indicators and so forth). In some forms, these rolls not haveindicium pre-printed on them and they may be fed into a printer so thatthe indicium may be printed on them prior to application. Still yet,such lengths may come in folded over in accordion fashion. Stillfurther, the indicators could be sold as part of an alert kit whichincludes a roll of each type of alert per box or just one type of alertin multiple sizes. Furthermore, when on a roll, there can be a “notch”between adjacent ends of indicators for improved ease of separation.

Still further, while such bands and indicators have been describedprimarily in a medical setting, it will be appreciated that such bandingand indicator systems could be employed in other contexts outside of thehealthcare market as well. For example, such contexts could includehotels/resorts, festivals, concerts, and other entertainment venues tovisually indicate access to certain sections or areas using a singleband with multiple identifiers.

Although specific embodiments are described above, it will be apparentto those of ordinary skill that a number of variations can be madewithin the scope of the disclosure. It should be understood, therefore,that the methods and apparatuses described above are only exemplary anddo not limit the scope of the invention, and that various modificationscould be made by those skilled in the art. To apprise the public of thescope of this invention, the following claims are made.

What is claimed is:
 1. An assembly comprising: a band including a strapthat forms a closed loop; and a set of one or more flexibletamper-evident indicators formed from respective lengths of flexibleindicator material, each indicator having first and second ends, eachindicator being adhesively fastened by adhesives disposed at the firstand second ends of that indicator to the band at a respective locationon the strap, the respective location on the strap having a widthsmaller than each of the respective lengths of flexible indicatormaterial; wherein the adhesives are disposed on an underside of eachindicator and each indicator is configured such that a partial topsurface of that indicator overlays an outwardly-facing surface of thestrap at the first and second ends of that indicator, the partial topsurface bearing an indicium; wherein the outwardly-facing surface of thestrap and the partial top surface of each indicator face away from acenter of the closed loop; wherein the set of one or more flexibletamper-evident indicators includes at least first and second indicators;wherein the first indicator has a first color and bears a first indiciumon its partial top surface; and wherein the second indicator has asecond color and bears a second indicium on its partial top surface. 2.The assembly of claim 1, wherein the strap is formed from a first lengthof flexible strap material having a first end and a second end; andwherein the band further comprises a closure mechanism that includes atleast respective portions of the first and second ends of the strap, theclosure mechanism configured to fasten the first and second ends of thestrap together, forming the band into a closed loop dimensioned toencircle a limb of a patient.
 3. An assembly, comprising: a bandincluding a strap that forms a closed loop; and a set of one or moreflexible tamper-evident indicators formed from respective lengths offlexible indicator material, each indicator having first and secondends, each indicator being adhesively fastened by adhesives disposed atthe first and second ends of that indicator to the band at a respectivelocation on the strap, the respective location on the strap having awidth smaller than each of the respective lengths of flexible indicatormaterial; wherein the adhesives are disposed on an underside of eachindicator and each indicator is configured such that a partial topsurface of that indicator overlays an outwardly-facing surface of thestrap at the first and second ends of that indicator, the partial topsurface bearing an indicium; wherein the outwardly-facing surface of thestrap and the partial top surface of each indicator face away from acenter of the closed loop; wherein the indicators and the adhesives arejointly configured and dimensioned such that removal of any indicatorcauses at least a portion of the partial top surface of that indicatorhaving a color of that indicator to remain adhered to the outward-facingsurface of the band; and wherein a tamper-evident section of eachindicator having the partial top surface of that indicator is patternedand jointly configured with the adhesives such that a first adhesionstrength between a first portion of the tamper-evident section and asecond portion of the tamper-evident section is weaker than a secondadhesion strength between the tamper-evident section and theoutward-facing surface of the band.
 4. An assembly, comprising: a bandincluding a strap that forms a closed loop; and a set of one or moreflexible tamper-evident indicators formed from respective lengths offlexible indicator material, each indicator having first and secondends, each indicator being adhesively fastened by adhesives disposed atthe first and second ends of that indicator to the band at a respectivelocation on the strap, the respective location on the strap having awidth smaller than each of the respective lengths of flexible indicatormaterial; wherein the adhesives are disposed on an underside of eachindicator and each indicator is configured such that a partial topsurface of that indicator overlays an outwardly-facing surface of thestrap at the first and second ends of that indicator, the partial topsurface bearing an indicium; wherein the outwardly-facing surface of thestrap and the partial top surface of each indicator face away from acenter of the closed loop; and wherein each length of flexible indicatormaterial includes an antimicrobial surface.
 5. An assembly, comprising:a band including a strap that forms a closed loop; and a set of one ormore flexible tamper-evident indicators formed from respective lengthsof flexible indicator material, each indicator having first and secondends, each indicator being adhesively fastened by adhesives disposed atthe first and second ends of that indicator to the band at a respectivelocation on the strap, the respective location on the strap having awidth smaller than each of the respective lengths of flexible indicatormaterial; wherein the adhesives are disposed on an underside of eachindicator and each indicator is configured such that a partial topsurface of that indicator overlays an outwardly-facing surface of thestrap at the first and second ends of that indicator, the partial topsurface bearing an indicium; wherein the outwardly-facing surface of thestrap and the partial top surface of each indicator face away from acenter of the closed loop; and wherein at least the partial top surfaceof each indicator is supplied with an overprint varnish disposed abovethe indicium, the overprint varnish protecting the indicium againstliquid exposure.
 6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein the entire topsurface of each indicator is supplied with the overprint varnish.
 7. Anassembly, comprising: a band including a strap that forms a closed loop;and a set of one or more flexible tamper-evident indicators formed fromrespective lengths of flexible indicator material, each indicator havingfirst and second ends, each indicator being adhesively fastened byadhesives disposed at the first and second ends of that indicator to theband at a respective location on the strap, the respective location onthe strap having a width smaller than each of the respective lengths offlexible indicator material; wherein the adhesives are disposed on anunderside of each indicator and each indicator is configured such that apartial top surface of that indicator overlays an outwardly-facingsurface of the strap at the first and second ends of that indicator, thepartial top surface bearing an indicium; wherein the outwardly-facingsurface of the strap and the partial top surface of each indicator faceaway from a center of the closed loop; and wherein the underside of eachindicator includes a bare area devoid of adhesive disposed between thefirst and second ends of that indicator, the bare area having a lengthgreater than the width of the strap at each respective location.
 8. Theassembly of claim 7, wherein the bare area of each indicator includes atleast a first pair of alignment marks dimensioned to correspond to awidth of the strap at a first respective location.
 9. The assembly ofclaim 8, wherein the bare area of each indicator includes at least asecond pair of alignment marks dimensioned to correspond to a width ofthe strap at a second respective location; and wherein the width of thestrap at the first respective location is greater than the width of thestrap at the second respective location.
 10. An indicator systemcomprising a set of one or more flexible tamper-evident indicators foradhering to a band having a strap that forms a closed loop, each of theset of one or more flexible tamper-evident indicators comprising arespective length of flexible indicator material providing a top surfacebearing an indicium on at least one of first and second ends of theindicator and an underside with adhesives disposed thereon at the firstand second ends of the indicator and with a bare area devoid of adhesivedisposed between the adhesives of the first and second ends of thatindicator, the bare area having a length at least equal to a strap widthof a selected band design; wherein each indicator is supplied with oneor more removable liner films adhering to the adhesives, the liner filmsconfigured to detach from the adhesives when the liner films are removedfrom the indicator; wherein the bare area of each indicator includes atleast a first pair of alignment marks dimensioned to correspond to thestrap width of the selected band design; and wherein each indicator isconfigured such that, when an indicator axis intersecting the first andsecond ends of the indicator is oriented perpendicularly to a strap of aband having the selected band design and when the strap of that band ispositioned to contact the bare area of the indicator between the firstpair of alignment marks, the strap of that band contacts only the barearea of the indicator.
 11. The system of claim 10, wherein theindicators are configured such that the liner films extend beyond one ormore edges of each respective length of flexible indicator material. 12.The system of claim 11, wherein the liner films are further configuredto detach from the adhesives when pulled in a direction substantiallyparallel to the respective lengths of flexible indicator material. 13.An indicator system comprising a set of one or more flexibletamper-evident indicators for adhering to a band having a strap thatforms a closed loop, each of the set of one or more flexibletamper-evident indicators comprising a respective length of flexibleindicator material providing a top surface bearing an indicium on atleast one of first and second ends of the indicator and an undersidewith adhesives disposed thereon at the first and second ends of theindicator and with a bare area devoid of adhesive disposed between theadhesives of the first and second ends of that indicator, the bare areahaving a length at least equal to a strap width of a selected banddesign; wherein the indicium of each indicator is included in atamper-evident section of the top surface of each indicator; wherein thetamper-evident section of each top surface is patterned and jointlyconfigured with the adhesives such that a first adhesion strengthbetween a first portion of the tamper-evident section and a secondportion of the tamper-evident section is weaker than a second adhesionstrength between the tamper-evident section and the outward-facingsurface of the band; and wherein, when any indicator has been adhered toa band, subsequent removal of that indicator causes at least a portionof the indicium of that indicator to remain adhered to the band.
 14. Anindicator system comprising a set of one or more flexible tamper-evidentindicators for adhering to a band having a strap that forms a closedloop, each of the set of one or more flexible tamper-evident indicatorscomprising a respective length of flexible indicator material providinga top surface bearing an indicium on at least one of first and secondends of the indicator and an underside with adhesives disposed thereonat the first and second ends of the indicator and with a bare areadevoid of adhesive disposed between the adhesives of the first andsecond ends of that indicator, the bare area having a length at leastequal to a strap width of a selected band design; wherein the adhesivesare jointly configured and dimensioned such that removal of anyindicator causes at least a portion of the partial top surface of thatindicator having a color of that indicator to remain adhered to theoutward-facing surface of the band.
 15. A method of adhering atamper-evident indicator to a band having a strap that forms a closedloop, the tamper-evident indicator having a length of flexible indicatormaterial providing a top surface bearing an indicium on a tamper-evidentsection of the top surface at one or more of first and second ends ofthe indicator and further having an underside with adhesives disposedthereon at the first and second ends of the indicator and with a barearea devoid of adhesive disposed between the adhesives of the first andsecond ends of that indicator, the bare area having a length at leastequal to a width of the strap, the method comprising: positioning theindicator such that an indicator axis intersecting the first and secondends of the indicator is oriented perpendicularly to the strap and thebare area faces toward an inward-facing surface of the strap which facestoward a center of the closed loop; and folding the indicator such thatthe adhesives adhere the first and second ends of the indicator to anoutward-facing surface of the strap and such that the indicium facesoutward from the center of the loop.
 16. The method of claim 15 furthercomprising: assembling the band to form the closed loop encircling alimb of a patient; inserting the indicator between the strap and thelimb of the patient such that the top surface of the indicator faces thelimb and the underside of the indicator faces the strap; and exposingthe adhesives by detaching liner materials adhered to the indicator bythe adhesives.